No, it was all too silly! Zoe, however, introduced Muffat into the bedroom, where a scent of ether lingered amid warm, heavy silence, scarce broken by the dull roll of occasional carriages in the Avenue de Villiers.

Nana, looking very white on her pillow, was lying awake with wide-open, meditative eyes.

She smiled when she saw the count but did not move.
"Ah, dear pet!" she slowly murmured.

"I really thought I should never see you again." Then as he leaned forward to kiss her on the hair, she grew tender toward him and spoke frankly about the child, as though he were its father.
"I never dared tell you; I felt so happy about it! Oh, I used to dream about it; I should have liked to be worthy of you! And now there's nothing left.

Ah well, perhaps that's best.